I have no worries about RT. I think we could draft a starter at RT in round 3. LT worries me. Bushrod was terrible this year, but unfortunately, I think he'll be back._________________
mike23md on the sig

Margus Hunt looks like more of a development project than many of the DEs available, but if he is there in round 3 when we pick I would gladly take him, even if we draft a DE in round 1. Rounds 4-7 can then cover offensive tackle & defensive depth

Margus Hunt looks like more of a development project than many of the DEs available, but if he is there in round 3 when we pick I would gladly take him, even if we draft a DE in round 1. Rounds 4-7 can then cover offensive tackle & defensive depth

That's what I was thinking. 6'8 290 and projected to run a 4.6 as well as bench press 225 40 times. The knock on him is 1 u mention and his age. He will be 26 for the start of his rookie season. Could possibly drop to the fourth.._________________
Copyrighted by Kiltman
My Second Sig

So we need a D overhaul this offseason. No more 'yeah but he was an integral part of the 09 championship winning team' or any of that garbage. If they sucked this season, they are gone.

Unfortunately reality is the organization can't and won't do that. So next best thing is limit the damage they can cause.

Let go:

Ellis (7.34M)
Shanle (2.25M)

Cut:
Smith (5.7M)

Those ones are the ones that have to be done. Ellis was awful the last 2 seasons, Shanle just sucks and Smith is useless. We can't be giving out money like that.

Restructure:
Harper(6.35-->3.5M)
Vilma(2.8-->2.3M)

As much as we'd like to cut the above two, the Saints love the leadership these two bring. So we do the next best thing. Make them cost less for that said leadership.

Total savings: 18.64M

From there it becomes a case of how do we fill our DE void? Free agency or draft?

I'm going to try do one through FA.

FA:

1.) DE Osi Umenyiora (2yrs 17M 8.5M/yr)
I question how big his market will be given his age, but I'm hoping he is fine with a 2 year deal giving him a 2.5M/yr raise on his current salary. He probably doesn't deserve it, but we need the talent at DE. Spags gets a DE he has worked with and that has worked for him, we get a DE that has worked in a Spags D before. It's a risk, as he might be more broken down, but we need the talent. He sucks at the run D, but at least he gives us a pass rush. Or hopefully gives us a pass rush.

2.) CB Derek Cox (3yrs, 14M 4.67M/yr)
While the Jags might want to retain him, if he does come available, I'd like to take a shot. He's an OK #2. He's not super special but he can cover pretty well. He also competes with Robinson and gives us better depth. Little overpaid but to get him we might need to overpay.

UDFA:

TE Ben Cotton, Nebraska
A one-dimensional blocking TE. Something we very much need on the roster. He's a good blocker.

Draft:

Round 1: DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
With Ellis gone we need a replacement. A guy like Richardson could be important for us. His ability to not only be a force against the run but also pass the rusher, he could be a force for us. Between Richardson, Hicks, Bunkley and Johnson, our options at DT might be enough to produce strong ability in the middle. Richardson boasts a non-stop motor, great athleticism, decent array of pass rush moves and he's more polished than some of the other options available at DE at this position.

Round 2(assuming we get it back): LB Chase Thomas, Stanford.
With Vilma declining in ability, Hawthorne being a bit beat up, Wilson not really finding a home, and Casillas' limitations, we need an answer at OLB beside Lofton. Thomas also gives us another potential pass rusher off the edge.

Round 3: OT Oday Aboushi, Virginia.
He gives us another big athlete for a potential LT to develop. With Bushrod slowing down, Brown not being able to stay healthy, Jones being a project, we need another body in there. Streif also sucks and should be let go. Aboushi is very solid in all aspects of the game and has great athleticism. Needs a few years to polish everything else up.

Round 4: S DJ Swearinger, South Carolina.
A sleeper S prospect who has been solid in all aspects for South Carolina. He was helped by a good D, for sure, but he's produced some nice plays in where he's shown good instincts and gritty play. We need a guy who could rise above and take either Harper's or Jenkins' spots through being a good player.

Round 5: WR Aaron Dobson, Marshall.
Big guy, fast, good hands and can run good routes. Underrated but I think would be worth a pick. We could use some more fresh blood in the WR corps.

2 questions. Is Junior Galette a FA? If so, how likely is it that he walks?_________________
"Strength is meaningless in o-line play if there is no explosive, or speed-strength, quality to the strength."
- LeCharles Bentley

DE Will Smith - $14.5M caphit next season, cutting him would cost us only $3M.

LB Jonathan Vilma - $8.6M caphit next season, cutting him would cost us only $2.6M.

SS Roman Harper - $7.1M caphit next season, cutting him would cost us only 2M.

Honestly, the way they've outlined it, cutting the above 3 saves us $22.6M in cap space. That is alot.

It gives us the ability to re-sign Bushrod, all our RFA's, give Graham a new contract and get some new bodies in on the D. Then add in other guys we let go(Ellis and his $7M+ salary) and then we have enough money to really revamp the D.

Loomis needs to be a hardass and really cut or restructure bad deals. The 3 outlined above and Ellis don't earn anywhere near their cap figures. We can't be paying for past production.

Hell we could maybe even take a run at Michael Johnson if he hits the market and we have enough money._________________

DE Will Smith - $14.5M caphit next season, cutting him would cost us only $3M.

LB Jonathan Vilma - $8.6M caphit next season, cutting him would cost us only $2.6M.

SS Roman Harper - $7.1M caphit next season, cutting him would cost us only 2M.

Honestly, the way they've outlined it, cutting the above 3 saves us $22.6M in cap space. That is alot.

It gives us the ability to re-sign Bushrod, all our RFA's, give Graham a new contract and get some new bodies in on the D. Then add in other guys we let go(Ellis and his $7M+ salary) and then we have enough money to really revamp the D.

Loomis needs to be a hardass and really cut or restructure bad deals. The 3 outlined above and Ellis don't earn anywhere near their cap figures. We can't be paying for past production.

Hell we could maybe even take a run at Michael Johnson if he hits the market and we have enough money.

Gronk got a 6 yr/$54 million contract with $16.5 million guaranteed ($8 million signing bonus up front). Graham will get something similar. AT BEST the Saints pay $8 million next season if they extend his contract (salary with bonus). That is going to significantly eat into the money you created. I don't see any possible way that the Saints can afford a marquee defensive player through free agency. It has to be a smart business savy investment.

Round 1: DT Sheldon Richardson: Great against the run, good pass rusher from the DT spot, incredible motor and a good character. Should fit in quite well.

Round 2: S Tony Jefferson: Can he play safety? A phrase we have used in NOLA for too long. Great safety prospect. A little short, but plays zone coverage quite well, can move around, good hitter, and is fantastic at coverage. Moves Jenkins down to SS where he should be more effective too.

Round 3: DE Brandon Jenkins: This is a risk. Absolutely. The thing is, it's one that could work out. If Jenkins was healthy, we'd be talking about a round 1 DE. He had alot of what you want in a pass rushing DE. OK size (6'3 260 lbs), a variety of pass rush moves, good hand usage, good motor and pretty athleticism. The problem was he did get injured and was out for the whole year. If his health checks out, drafting him would give us a DE with great pass rush skills and athleticism.

Round 4: OLB Jake Knott: Good OLB prospect that is good in run support and in coverage. Really high motor too. Good leader also.

Round 5: WR Aaron Dobson: Good size and speed. Can run good routes and has safe hands. Another weapon for Brees to utilize.

Round 6: OT Justin Pugh: OT prospect who could develop into a LT with some work. Unfortunately with our emphasis on D, this needed to drop down the rounds, but we still get a guy who has the skills.

Thoughts? Watching the Wild card games, so many teams have multiple rookies having an impact, the question is, why can't we?

I think Jenkins at SS might serve him better. His coverage skills and his ability to make plays around the LOS might be best utilized as an SS. I think he fits a Spags SS really well too. Jefferson should do well as a FS. Knott is a bit of a risk at OLB, but we need guys to be hungry and step up. Hopefully it's him. With Jenkins and Richardson, we're hoping our D-line can produce a consistent pass rush.

It's a risk, but I think we need to move to a more hungry and young D and away from a complacent and aging D.